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Friday, September 09, 2011

Future Friday #3: Books

To countdown the release of The Future of Us (November 21st!), Carolyn Mackler and I will give away one autographed Advance Reader’s Copy every week. Along with the autographed copy (signed by both of us), we’ll toss in another goodie that's book-related.

For our third giveaway, the bonus item is a two-pack of disposable cameras. How are disposable cameras related to the book? I guess you'll have to read it to find out!

We'll randomly select one person who comments on this Future Friday post to receive both prizes. There’s no need to leave your email address, but do check back on Saturday to see if you’ve won.

This week, we want to know your favorite books that came out in 1996. Don't tell us the books you want to read because it'll spoil a future Future Friday. Tell us about the books (up to three) that you did read. If for some odd reason you don't remember which books came out in 1996, here's a good reminder.

And here are our answers:

JAY:Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I read this at a time when I was uncertain of what I wanted to do with my life. After finishing the book, I still had no idea, but I knew I didn't want to hitchhike to Alaska and live off the land (even if Eddie Vedder would compose the soundtrack of my life).Frindle by Andrew Clements. Such a basic idea taken to extremes. At the time, I was trying to write manuscripts for this age group, and this book made me very jealous.

CAROLYN:Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding because I was single and living in a city and feeling like a big screw-up half the time. I totally identified with Bridget!Loose Change by Sara Davidson. This didn't come out until 1997, but I was working as an intern at a magazine in the summer of 1996 and the advance copy came in the mail. It's about three young women in the 1960s - couldn't put it down.

97 comments:

Well, in 1996, I was 5 so I can't imagine I'd read anything except picture books at the time. But out of that list, here's what I've read: The Notebook, Into the Wild, Falling Up, and there actually is a picture book: Green Eggs and Ham!

My favorite books that came out in 1996 are The fifth Mountain by Paulo Coelho and Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice.I have read them after they come out because in 1996, I was 7. At 7 I read Enid Blyton's books.

I was 8 years old in 1996 and I'd just discovered the Animorphs series. The second book, The Visitor, came out that year and it was narrated by my favourite character, Rachel. I'm not really a cat person, but after reading that installment, it seemed pretty cool to be able to turn into a cat.

I would say A Game of Thrones, because I love the A Song of Ice and Fire series, but that's actually not the best book in the series. So I'm going to go with Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman, because that's my very favorite of the books of his I've read.

At the end of that year, I had basically flunked out of my freshman year of college and took up my first job at a library (I am now a high school librarian). Having been burned out on reading in school, I rediscovered my love of books once working in a library. It was a pivotal year in my life, so looking at books released then is interesting.

In no particular order...

1) The Green Mile - Stephen KingI'm not a big fan of King's more graphic stuff, instead preferring his supernatural-tinged books. I loved everything about The Green Mile: the era, characters, and the overwhelming sadness of John Coffey.

2) Falling Up - Shel SilversteinSilverstein's books always remind me of my childhood and sitting with my grandfather as he read poems out of Where The Sidewalk Ends. Falling Up brings me back to that time that I miss so dearly.

3) Into the Wild - Jon KrakauerThis book pretty much made me decide to quit my job of seven years, pack up my Carolla and move from a small college town in NH to Minneapolis with no job and no friends. Like Christopher, I was sort of running from something; unlike Christopher, I came out relatively unscathed.

Well, I really wanted to win this book but I will not lie, I didn't read any. I was only 3 years old at this time. But currently, I'm reading The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I have watched the movies of The Beach and Push (Precious) and actually they are my favorite movies.

I read The Beach back when it came out in 1996 and was mesmerized. I still own it to this day and have read it a number of times! I also enjoyed the movie, but I enjoyed the book so much more... Isn't that always the way?? :)

I Would say The notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Is the first book that I read of Nicholas, and was the same season that I fell in love with my girlfriend (I'm still falling in love with her).. So, a romantic book, a love. Everything cool!

In 1996 both my children were graduating from highschool so I more time to read my favorites were Angela's ashes by Frank Mccourt the mans life was amazing and the Luantic Cafe by Laurell K Hamilton have loved si fi all my life

My favorite book of 1996 was Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas. To me, it was a true portrayal of a teenager seeking the meaning of life when in fact his life seems to be in shambles around him. I am and will always be a sucker for tales of self discovery and life reflection.

This is a tough one, because there are a lot of GREAT books from 96! I would have to say the book that really moved me the most (I laughed, I cried) was Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. What an awesome memoir. Happy to see it is now on some lists for our local high school, my nephew just read it (he's a Junior). (My mind candy for that year was Bridget Jones' Diary--I also laughed UNTIL I cried! Funny stuff!)

Hands down my favorite would have to be "Neverwhere" by the incomparable Neil Gaiman-- still one of my favorites to this day :) Also, much love for Mr. Palahniuk for "Fight Club" and the amazing Shel Silverstein for his wonderful poetry in "Falling Up."

Well, I was four in '96. So I would have to say Green Eggs 'n Ham. I read that book over and over, and i had it memorized. It was one of the first books I ever picked to read myself, and I remember reading it to my class for show and tell one day.

Love this concept/contest, Jay! In 1996 I devoured "Into the Wild" and saw Jon speak at the Fernbank science center Imax theater in Atlanta- a real treat. I also read "View From Saturday"- I've loved E.L. Konigsburg since I was 9... and (I know this seems non-sequitur) but I also read "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

I guess my fav from that year would be Fight Club--although I actually liked the movie better, which is not usually the case.I also think that I read Runaway Jury by John Grisham, but I can't swear to that. So many of his law related plots run together for me now. Wow. I'm being really critical of 1996 books for some reason. Not intentional. :(I can't wait to read Future of Us though! :)

My favorite book that came out in 1996 was Clockwork, or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman. I read that book every week when I was in the 7th and 8th grade. I still read it whenever possible. If you haven't read it, I would highly recommend it to anyone.

My favorite books from 1996…hmmm…well in 1996 my favorites were the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine. Since there’s a ton of them I’m sure there were some published in 1996.  I also love the Notebook, a story of love and commitment that I believe most people wish to find, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which shows how family shapes us, for good and bad.

1) Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk: One of my all time favorite books, Palahniuk is an amazing contemporary author and really got me back into the trend of reading for pleasure.2) Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen: I grew up reading Gary Paulsen books, and I read a lot of his books. His stories are very realistic and easy to get attached to.3) The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks: Saw the movie, loved it. Read the book, loved it more. My fiancee loves that I love a romantic story.

Well, I was born in '95...so I wasn't actually reading any books then. But I do love quite a few books that came out in '96. That Summer by Sarah Dessen is a perfect summer read. Frindle is one of the first chapter books I remember reading, and of course The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is amazing.

Favorite book that I actually read in 1996 (that I actually remember reading that year): Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Favorite books that I've read that happen to have been published in 1996:The Realms of the Gods - Tamora PierceShakespeare's Landlord - Charlaine HarrisThe Bromeliad Trilogy - Terry Pratchett (we had the omnibus edition from the Science Fiction bookclub)

Good luck on the book - our library has several copies preordered! (It helps that I'm the teen librarian)

At the time, I was 11 so I think the only ones I read were Falling Up and the two Calvin and Hobbes books - I bought every Calvin and Hobbes through my school book order.

Of the ones I've read since then, The Sparrow, The View from Saturday, and Lily's Purple Plastic Purse are probably my favorites. Yeah, I may technically be an adult, but I still read mostly children's and teen lit!

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse - I was a freshman in college at the time and my friend Amber, an elementary education major, would have story-time in her dorm room every week. Kevin Henkes' books were my first introduction to the notion that children's books could be so creative and hilarious.

I was born in 1996, so, obviously, I wasn't doing much reading. But, I have read some books published in 1996, and I've heard of many other ones. My most recent favorite (because I LOVE LOVE LOVE the author) is That Summer. I remember loving the entire Junie B. Jones series, so I would have to list Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Wilson and Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim's Birthday as my second and third favorites. I actually remember some of what happened in those two books, but I haven't read them since, like, third or fourth grade, maybe?

My three favorite books of 1996 were: #1-"The Realm of the Gods" by Tamora Pierce which is still one of my all time favorite books.#2-"Secret Vampire" by L.J. Smith which is my favorite book by her, way better than the Vampire Diaries series.#3-"The Lost Years of Merlin" by T.A. Barron who is always an intriguing writer.

If I'm going to talk about reading candy, I have to go with That Summer by Sarah Dessen. I just love her. But if I'm going for power, I'd say Push by Sapphire. As a woman and a mother, it just broke my heart, over and over, page after page.

I was two in 1996 so...I don't normally read books from before the 2000s and on that entire list can only say I've read two of them: That Summer by Sarah Dessen and Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Of those two the only one I really loved was Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey. I'm a huge Haddix fan and this one of the first of her books I read.

1)Falling Up by Shel Silverstein; I loved all the peoms that came out in this book and the ones before it.

2)Sin City(Vol. 4)-That Yellow Ba****d by Frank Miller; Miller's stories and artwork that's a blend of black and white with color as an accent for subtle cues all are used for a tale of love.

3)Kingdom Come by Mark Waid(Writer), Alex Ross(Illustrator), Todd Klein(Letterer); The story of a preacher lossing his faith gets pulled by the hero "The Spectre" so that he may witness the (maybe) coming apocolypes by the superheros. As new heros and villians fight with out regard for humanity superheros past there prime led by an aged Superman must keep them from harming others but its not an easy task. the story is remarkable truley amazing and Alex Ross's amazing and beautiful artwork comes to gether to tell a story unlike any other. It regarded as an iconic comic book and a personal favorite of mine.

Although I was born in '95 I'm an avid reader, and am surprised I have read some books that were published in '96.I have to say some of my favorite books published in 1996 were (in no particular order)...1. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 2. The Green Mile (Stephen King) 3. Falling Up (Shell Silverstein) 4: Darcy's Story5. The Notebook

To be honest I haven't read an of those books in 1996. I was quite young back then...

I do remember reading 'The Voice on the Radio' by Caroline B. Cooney though (Third book in the Janie Johnson series). I'm not sure if I read it in 1996 or later on but I do remember really enjoying that series

Angela's Ashes is my favorite book from 1996. I didn't actually read it then--I read it the winter of 2002 in Ukraine as a Peace Corps Volunteer, huddled in my Soviet style apartment. World-view altering book.

Neverwhere(!): First Neil Gaiman I ever read! I really loved the idea of an entire world that only a select few could be allowed to know actually exists. Made me realize how important it is to build an effective world to make your story that much more tangible.

My favorite books from 1996 are definitely: 1) Falling Up - Silverstein's poetry is just too whimsical not to love

2)The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 - I LOVED the Dear America series and I particularly remember this one because of the vivid images of the Red Snow.

3)It's a Magical World - I always loved Calvin and Hobbes and learned life lessons through Watterson's fun comics.

It would have to be The Green Mile, by Stephen King. I'm a huge Stephen King fan, but this book in particular was fascinating to me. Published as a serial, I couldn't wait to read the next one when I reached the end of the current installment. And John Coffey (like the drink, only not spelled the same) is one of the most compelling characters I've ever read about.

That year I was introduced to Raymond Carver... The book was "Where Im Calling From".. a great collection of short stories. My College English professor had us pick some great authors we had never heard of. Im sure glad she did!

As many who commented before me I was 6 years old in 1996, so I guess I just started reading. I remember we had those great little orange books here in Austria that featured words AND pictures. Loved them!Later on I obviously read a lot of book which where published in 1996 - didn't know that before today :D My favourites are "The Notebook" by N. Sparks, "Alias Grace" by M. Atwood and "That Summer" by S. Dessen.

I was 4 YEARS OLD in 1996. Wish I could turn back time and go back to being 4. Naturally I don't remember what I read then. Picture books I guess.Anyhoo I LOVE A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1)!I had no idea the book was so old! I read the book once I started following the TV Show!XThanks ^^